Playlist

The first line of Stephen's story explains why I just might check out a little flick called The Wackness coming out tomorrow. The hip-hop soundtrack list alone at the bottom of the story is like, "It was all a dream! I used to read Word Up magazine!"

(Courtesy photo: Notorious B.I.G.)

On the heels of Mario's white soul-sister story, Bridgette was wondering where a radio-listener is supposed to catch any of the blue-eyed sound he wrote about. My question is, where on the dial are we supposed to catch neo-soul at all? "KSoul" DSOC-FM (94.5) caters to the Al Green crowd, but what about Amy Winehouse or Joss Stone? I know, I know. There are other means besides the radio to hear these women. But I practically live in my car, the radio's on ... am I ever going to hear them? Is there some Amy airplay I don't know about?

Is soul losing its color or just letting in some light? Check out Mario's look at the phenomenon of white soul-singing women — Amy, Joss, even older acts like Dusty Springfield and Annie Lennox — and our slideshow of some the women from his story.

(AP photo: Amy Winehouse at the Rock in Rio music fest near Madrid on July 4)

Somebody (I think it's Jeff Liles) has created this very random Dallas Music History page on Myspace. It's got a fun-to-watch news report video from the Sex Pistols' gig at Longhorn Ballroom. And it's just got this stream-of-consciousness kind of list of names of anybody and everybody who's ever been associated with the Dallas music scene. It's a true genre-buster, too: The list includes current and dearly-departed musicians from jazz pianist Big Al Dupree to Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

Check out the review from last' nights show here, video of screaming fans before the show here and comments from last night's concert-goers here.

Get an early look at photos of acts coming to Dallas on Thursday with the 15th annual Vans Warped Tour. Check the site tomorrow (or the blog; I'll probably have it here, too) for Mike's Vans Warped roundup story + photos.

(Courtesy photo: Horrorpops)

For no good reason other than to make us laugh, Chris McNary over on the DallasNews.com desk sent us GuideLive.com gals this Youtube of Hear 'n Aid, the "We Are the World" of metaldom, headed by Ronnie James Dio. I almost suffocated from all the hair. Enjoy.

In his latest column, Mario laments the dying of vinyl — and cassette tapes and CDs, for that matter. Do you buy music from stores anymore, or do you exclusively download? Do you have strong feelings either way? Share your favorite album or CD cover art if you have one, too.

(Photo: coverbrowser.com. You can't experience cover art like this when you download, now, can you?)

I recently returned from a trip to London, where music awaits you at every corner -- and in the Underground too. My wife and I found ourselves one night in Covent Garden, and even though it was raining, we heard the most amazing voice ... complemented by terrific guitar playing. It turned out to be a remarkable tenor named Terry St. Clair. I struck up a conversation with Terry and have since e-mailed him. You too can listen to his tunes, on his My Space page. It turns out I'm not the only American who has gone to England and discovered Terry, in the same way we were given the gift of our favorite movie of 2007, Once, which carries its own UK flair. Rice University student Dustin Bachrach recently posted a photograph of Terry on his Web site (thanks much for the photo, Dustin), and -- what do you know? -- even American cinema has discovered Terry.

Photo of Terry St. Clair courtesy of Dustin Bachrach

Dawn and another editor up here, Jerry Bokamper (aka "Mr. Dallas"), were just talking about how the increasingly salacious details from the trial are making it hard for the media to describe things without offending readers more than necessary. At any rate, click down below to see journalism's latest attempt. Also check out Lorrie's post about the matter here.

Also, are you a fan of the Boondocks comic strip? There's an episode of the cartoon version about the R. Kelly trial, with over-the-top commentary on hip-hop/pop culture and race. (If you're not familiar, this contains raw language, depictions).

(Photo: AP)

Check out a video slideshow of pictures from Radiohead's sold-out Dallas concert as well as comments about the show from DMN pop music critic Thor Christensen. Read his review of the show here and see what he has to say about the playlist here.

Hunter Hauk, local music guru over at Quick, has added some digital extras to this week's Liner Notes column. Read his latest dish here.

Yep, Alicia is holding a contest to find a new backup vocalist, who will join the singer/politico on her worldwide Lexus Presents Alicia Keys As I Am tour. Interested? Get on Alicia's Myspace page and submit a 30 second or longer video of yourself singing an original song acapella. Deadline is May 5. Requirements include being female and between the ages of 21 and 30. Click below for more info.

Yep, get the first single from Viva La Vida for free from the band's Web site. But hurry; the offer only lasts a week, starting tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. More here.

I don't like big pink elephants sitting in the middle of a hot topic. This story about rappers performing for youths and giving their testimonies on the syndicated radio show The Spirit of Hip-Hop exposes the humongous rosy pachyderm that always accompanies the topic of mainstream hip-hop and religion: How can you rap about b*tches and hoes, then turn around and tell kids that God is real in your life?

It reminds me how amazed I get sometimes when listening to "K104" KKDA-FM (104.5). It has the pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church on most mornings to give a spiritual, "inspirational vitamin" about the love of God, living right and becoming a better person. Then what follows? Often a song celebrating strip clubs, drunkenness, violence or the degradation of women. No transition, no sense of irony and no acknowledgement of the very obvious hypocrisy served up.

CNN International poses the same question to Sprit of Hip-Hop host Corey Condrey in this video.

• BMI's 2008 Christian Music Awards
Ed Cash won songwriter of the year and his "Made to Worship" composition was named song of the year at the awards show in Nashville on Saturday. Read more about it here.

• Gospel Music Channel takes off
It's now TV's fastest-growing cable network. Even bigger for GMC, it will carry live coverage of the 39th annual Dove Awards on Wednesday. Read more here.

• Third Day, Switchfoot join Live Nation for Music Builds Tour
The 23-city U.S. tour, which also features Robert Randolph & the Family Band and Jars of Clay, will benefit Habitat for Humanity. It'll stop in Dallas at Superpages.com Center Oct. 2. More here and here.

(Wikipedia.org)

A synopsis: "The project revolves around two male dancers on the show who get into 'a lot of good stuff and some bad stuff as well,' said Cornelius, who will serve as a producer. It features 'lots of music, lots of comedy,' as well as 'a little bit of violence.' He also promised it would be 'more than slightly sensual.'"

Check out a video slideshow of Bruce Springsteen's concert on Sunday with commentary from pop music critic Thor Christensen, in addition to Thor's review of the concert from Monday. Read comments about the show by fans at my other Bruce Springsteen post below.

• Because most of us can only experience SXSW vicariously, local act Big Red Rooster members (get to know them via video above) will blog here about their random and hopefully deleterious experiences down in Austin. Check back for that around, oh, sometime this evening.
• Our Spanish-language publication, Al Día, already has a story here about Aterciopelados, Molotov and other alternative Latin music acts at the festival.
• Stuff: SXSW vets around the office say our critics and other media types probably spent most of today standing in lines for credentials and other official kit. Thor reviews Van Morrison tonight; Mike will have a show picked out to review by tonight, too. We'll be snapping mad pics of bands, the scene, the hordes. Oh, and Mike will paint us a picture of what it's like to be a SXSW band roadie after following around local act the New Frontiers. Stay tuned.

• All SXSW coverage

Check out the concert webcast right now:

• OPERATION MYSPACE CONCERT LIVE

It's a three-hour concert that started at 1 p.m. our time, streaming in high-def flash from Kuwait, in front of what appears to be thousands of U.S. military. There's also a number where you can leave messages for the troops while you're watching.

Performers: Disturbed, Jessica Simpson, Pussycat Dolls, Filter, Z-Trip, Metal Sanaz. It's hosted by Carlos Mencia.

I posted this earlier on the Screening Room blog, but I figured I'd drop it over here as well since it has such a strong music tie.

AUSTIN -- This morning I had the chance to interview one of my musical idols, Daniel Lanois. Never heard of him? Odds are you are familiar with his work: He, along with Brian Eno, produced many of U2's albums, including The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby and All That You Can't Leave Behind. And he's also produced acclaimed albums by Willie Nelson (Teatro) and Bob Dylan (Time Out of Mind).

When he sat for our interview, he looked as rock and roll as one can get, wearing a black leather motorcycle jacket, dark shades and a black cap. And as we talked, he fiddled with an acoustic guitar, which he referred to as his security blanket.

Willie on Wednesday night (Randy Eli Grothe / DMN)

• Video
• Review
• Tonight's show info

The singer and actress is launching a social networking site through Kraft Foods aimed at women, where she and three other personalities issue challenges to members and offer ideas for cocktail parties, personal style and other fun stuff. Upumpitup's decidedly un-Mypsace but still, eh, cute.